Chef Nobu Matsuhisa had a sweet encounter with Princess Diana shortly before her death.
On Tuesday, Dec. 9, the chef and restaurateur told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards media preview in Beverly Hills, Calif., that he served the Princess of Wales “just a month” before her tragic death.
After being asked about his most memorable moment serving a celebrity, Matsuhisa tells PEOPLE, “I was in London with Princess Diana just a month before that car accident. I served her and also introduced myself.”
He states that Princess Diana was already familiar with his work, and said to him: “Oh, Chef Nobu. I already knew you, I read about your story in a book.”
Princess Diana.
Bettmann Archive/Getty
The chef continues: “I was so impressed. I had so much excitement. She has charisma, she’s beautiful, intelligent, so elegant.”
Matsuhisa says he returned to New York that same day, where he later learned of her death.
Princess Diana’s death 26 years ago: remembering the key figures – and how their lives were changed forever
Princess Diana, who lived in London, died on August 31, 1997 in Paris at the age of 36, when she and two others, Dodi Al Fayed and driver Henri Paul, died in a car accident.
The Nobu co-owner recalls “crying” when he saw the news on television.
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Matsuhisa will return to host the upcoming Golden Globes ceremony on January 5. According to CT Insider, it will serve several signature dishes, including a Gold Standard Roll that includes king crab, topped with salmon, golden flakes and caviar with a side of yuzu sauce.
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Chef Nobu Matsuhisa presents an exclusive menu at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Nominations Media Review Event on December 9, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Additional dishes include seaweed tacos, yellowtail jalapeno, sashimi salad and black cod, along with tuna, whitefish and salmon sushi rolls.
The chef, who hosted the awards earlier this year, says of the experience, “I love watching the show. I also love watching people eat my food, smiling and laughing.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education